Soccer team looks to continue its winning ways from 2007

When a soccer squad's defense goes an entire season without allowing more than one goal, if follows logically that the team loses few games.

That was the case with the 2007 Westfield High School boys' soccer team, which parlayed a great defense led by all-county goalie Mike O'Brien to fashion a 14-5-3 mark, which included breaking Scotch Plains Fanwood's 21-year stranglehold on the Watchung Conference.

Despite the impressive accomplishments, the season ended with two bitter 1-0 defeats to SPF in the Union County Tournament semi-finals and Columbia in the North Jersey Group IV Section II semi-finals. The loss to the Raiders avenged Westfield's first regular season sweep in more than 20 years, but accented Westfield's need for more offense in 2008.

"Our goals are to go well beyond those tough losses. We recognize the need to generate more offense. We think we have the talent to score many goals this year," said veteran coach George Kapner. Although replacing O'Brien will not be easy, Kapner said he has confidence in senior Mike Lesssner, a striker last year who filled in for O'Brien when he missed several games in the 2006 season. Junior Adam Fine gives Kapner another capable goalkeeper who can fill in when needed.
Fine and Lessner will have a capable defense in front of them with experienced defenders like senior co-captain Pat Tresnan and senior Nick Breza. Seniors Kevin Murphy and Ryan Jennings and sophomore Evan Heroux will also contribute to the team's efforts. Senior Todd Saunders, a fine man-on-man defender and the team's fastest player, will be utilized at a number of positions by Kapner.
"Saunders will play where he fits best within the system," said Kapner.
Senior co-captain Mike Irving, perhaps the team's best all-around player, will handle the midfield, joined by seniors Matt Isabella, Andy Flood, Malcolm Opoku and Matt Karnofsky. Tom McManus, Vlad Bouchouev, Mike Forgash and Joe Greenspan will share time at striker.
In addition to O'Brien, the Blue Devils also must replace all-county midfielder Brandon Heroux, who gave the team an added weapon with his long throw-ins, and Matt Gralla, a fine all-around player. But Kapner said he realizes his system endures beyond any player, no matter how proficient.
"No one player makes a team good, and players from previous years are never replaced. We play within a system. Although we need individual talent, the success of the system depends on the success of every individual buying into the system and playing for every other individual on the team. It is not about the cumulative abilities of 11 individuals, but rather about how those 11 individuals merge into one force with a common focus," said Kapner.
A year ago, a junior-dominated Blue Devils team set the tone for the season with a surprising away win at highly-regarded Scotch Plains Fanwood in the second game. The teams will play their first game on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Kehler Stadium. Kapner said he realizes the expectations will be higher this year.
"We will not sneak up on anybody this year," said Kapner.